‘Swoop’ from Harlem Wizards visits Lake-Noxen Elementary School

HARVEYS LAKE — Sixth-grader Bo Voelker did his best to imitate the series of basketball tricks “Swoop” from the Harlem Wizard’s challenged him with at an assembly Monday at Lake-Noxen Elementary School.

“Shake that ball; go around your waist – two times; between your legs – two times; around your head – two times; and hit that nay-nay,” “Swoop” said.

Then “Swoop” tossed the basketball into the air and booty bumped it to the youngster.

Voelker performed the series of basketball tricks, including the booty bump in front of 300 of his classmates, ranging from kindergarten to sixth-grade, who cheered him on.

“Swoop,” also known as Dwayne Simpson, has been a member of the Harlem Wizards basketball team since 2007.

On Monday, he visited all three Lake-Lehman Elementary schools to promote their upcoming game against the Black Knights team comprised of parents and school faculty at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21.

In previous years, the Harlem Wizards held basketball events at the high school as a fundraiser for the Lehman-Jackson Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization campaign to purchase new playground equipment, which was installed this summer.

The crowd-pleasing fundraising basketball event will now benefit all three Lake-Lehman Elementary PTO groups, said Kristy Ann Mikolaichik, president of the Lake-Noxen Elementary School PTO.

“Funds raised will go to pay for school assemblies, field trips and classroom materials that were not included in the school’s budget,” she said.

After watching Swoop’s basketball techniques and his ability to teach first-grader Grayce VanHouten to spin a basketball on her little finger, Nancy Edkins, Lake-Noxen Elementary School principal, knows she is in for a fun game.

Edkins, a former physical education teacher and basketball coach, played against the Harlem Wizards last year.

“It is like going to an event at (Mohegan Sun) arena,” Edkins said. “Similar to a (Harlem) Globetrotter event.”

At the game, there is food for sale as well as Harlem Wizard memorabilia giveaways, she said.

“There is a lot of crowd involvement (at the games),” Edkins said.

Lake-Noxen Elementary student Landen Hall screams in excitement during a school assembly with Harlem Wizard Dwayne ‘Swoop’ Simpson.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TDP011517wizard1-2.jpg.optimal.jpgLake-Noxen Elementary student Landen Hall screams in excitement during a school assembly with Harlem Wizard Dwayne ‘Swoop’ Simpson.

Harlem Wizard Dwayne ‘Swoop’ Simpson dances with Lake-Noxen Kindergarten Teacher Carrie McDonald during a school assembly Monday.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TDP011517wizard2-2.jpg.optimal.jpgHarlem Wizard Dwayne ‘Swoop’ Simpson dances with Lake-Noxen Kindergarten Teacher Carrie McDonald during a school assembly Monday. Aimee Dilger| Dallas Post

Lake-Noxen Elementary students Dakota Brennan and Gavin Wolfe look up to the six-foot seven-ich tall Harlem Wizards Dwayne ‘Swoop Simpson as he talked about the upcoming basketball game against the Black Knights Jan. 21.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TDP011517wizard3-2.jpg.optimal.jpgLake-Noxen Elementary students Dakota Brennan and Gavin Wolfe look up to the six-foot seven-ich tall Harlem Wizards Dwayne ‘Swoop Simpson as he talked about the upcoming basketball game against the Black Knights Jan. 21. Aimee Dilger| Dallas Post

Lake-Noxen Elementary student Brody Rineheimer raises his hands along with nearly 300 other students as Harlem Wizard Dwayne ‘Swoop’ Simpson talks about listening skills.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TDP011517wizard4-2.jpg.optimal.jpgLake-Noxen Elementary student Brody Rineheimer raises his hands along with nearly 300 other students as Harlem Wizard Dwayne ‘Swoop’ Simpson talks about listening skills. Aimee Dilger| Dallas Post

Grayce VanHouten, a first-grade student at Lake-Noxen Elementary takes a basketball from Harlem Wizard Dwayne ‘Swoop’ Simpson to learn how to spin the ball on her finger.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TDP011517wizard7-2.jpg.optimal.jpgGrayce VanHouten, a first-grade student at Lake-Noxen Elementary takes a basketball from Harlem Wizard Dwayne ‘Swoop’ Simpson to learn how to spin the ball on her finger. Aimee Dilger| Dallas Post